Suction cleaner



Dec. 17, 1935. H. B. WHITE 2,024,251

' I sUcTIoN CLEANER Filed Deo. l, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO RNEY Dec. 17, 1935. H. B. WHITE g 2,024,261

sUcT IoN CLEANER i Filed Deo. 1,1955 :s-rsheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR lfany While ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1935; H B.V WHITE 2,024,261

sUcTIoN CLEANER Filed Dec. l, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mam H914 any. W/zffe ATTO RN EY Parenteel Dee 17, 1193s PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Harry' n. white, canton, ohio, assigner terne' Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 1, 1933, serial No. v7110,.8'1

, i3 claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel improvements in a combined suction cleaner and dusting tools. More specically the invention comprises the provision of means in a suction cleaner which function, during the period `of dusting tool use, to prevent contact of the driven agitator with the surface covering.

It is an object of the invention .to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. A further object is the provision of new and novel improvements in the combination of a suction cleaner and dust- -ing tools'. A still further object is the provision of means in a suction cleaner which function to eliminate agitator contact with the surface covering during the period of dusting tool use. A still further object is the provision of means which'raise the nozzle and the agitator from contact with the surface' covering during the period of dusting tool use. 'Still another object is the provision ofgmeans which, in locking the dusting tool converter to the suction cleaner, automatically position the ysurface covering agitator so that contact with the'covering 'is impossible. Theseand other more specific objects willappear upon reading the .following specication and claims, and upon'considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate. Referring'now to the drawings, in which the same reference character refers to like partsthroughout:

-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention with the dusting tool locked in place Figure 2 is a partial section upon` the line 2 2 of Figure 1; k

Figure 3 is a partial bottom view of the cleaner shown in Figure 1:

Figure 4--is a side view of the cleaner with the dusting tool unlocked and ready for removal;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the opposite side ofthe cleaner;

Figure 6 is a section upon the line 6-6 of Figure 5 showing the removable cover plate for the motor driven pulley;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a second modication ofthe present invention with the dusting tool converter attached to the machine and locked in place thereon;

Figure 8 is a section upon the line 8 8 of Figure 7;

. Figure 9 is a side view of the second embodlment with' the locking means for dusting tool converter pontioned so that the converter may be -removed from the cleaner proper;

- ber.

Figure 10 is a partial side view of a third embodiment of the present invention, the locking means securing the converter in place upon the cleaner;

Figure 11 is a partial section upon the line 5 I I'-I I of Figure 13;

Figure 12 is a section upon the line I2-I2 of Figure 13 A Figure 13 is a partial view of the-same side of the cleaner shown in Figure 10 but with the dusting tool converter removed and the cover plate locked in place by the locking means;

Figure 14 is a section upon the line III-I4 of Figure 10. y

The use of dusting tools with a suction cleaner 15 is well known in the suction cleaner art'for the purpose of increasing the range ofl usefulness of the cleaner. 'Ihe more eflicient surface covering cleaners embody agitating means which impart a positive vibration to the covering and assist the cleaning air in the cleaning function. With the receive and kseat the converter of a dusting tool unit. Means are provided which lock the dusting tool converter in its place on the cleaner and these means are so constructed that their adjustment to lock the converter in place automatically functions to raise the agitator from the surface covering. In the present specification three preferred embodiments' of this .invention are disclosed.

Refening now to Figures 1 vto 6, inclusive, the nrst preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The cleaner proper is seen to comprise a nozzle I which is interiorly connected -by a passageway 2 to the eye l of the fan chamber 3. A rotary fan 5 -is mounted upon the extended end of the motor shaft 6 within the cham- 45 The cleaner motor is arranged with its axis parallel vto the nozzle I, in a well known manner,

' with the opposite end of the'shaft 6 extended into a passageway 'l where it is formed as a pulley and is connected, by means of a belt 8. to the of the machine.

' machine upon the surface covering as an on-theoor cleaner, the opening Il, formed in the air channel or passageway 2 immediately opposite the eye 4 of the fan chamber, is similarly closed by a removable cover plate. y

A dust bag I2 is Vremovably secured to the exhaust outlet I3 of the fan chamber by means of manually adjustable locking nut I4, I4 in a common and well known manner.

The machine is movably supported upon front wheels I5, I5 and rear wheels I6, I6, the front Wheels being pivotally mounted upon a crankshaft |1 which extends across the machine immediately behind nozzle I. A manually rotatable nut member I8, carried by a bracket I9 on channel 1, encloses a threaded vertical shaft 20 at its upper end. The lower end of shaft 20 is slotted and slidingly encloses van offset arm of the shaft I1. The crankshaft is normally maintained in the upper position permitted by the slot 2| in the shaft 2|) through being spring-pressed upwardly by means of a spring 22. It is clear that the crankshaft may be pivoted within an angular range determined by the length of the slot 2| without change in the height-adjusting means, it being necessary only to overcome the force exerted by the spring 22.

The construction of the cleaner proper is com- `pleted by a pivoted handle 25 through which the operator can exert a propelling force to move the cleaner over the surface covering.

It being desired to convert thevcleaner into a unit adapted for off-the-floor cleaning the operator removes the cover plate from the opening I I in passageway 2 corresponding to the plate 23 over opening I0 in the passageway 1. Through the opening the end of the dusting tool converter 38 is inserted into seating relationship with the eye 4 of the fan chamber 3.. The converter member 30 is properly alined relative to the machine through being provided with radially extending shoulders 3|, 3| which seat within similarly shaped recesses formed inthe opening II.

Converter 30 is provided with a pivoted locking member or plate 32 carried upon a pin 33 rotatably mounted lin an integral shoulder 3 4 on the converter. The pin 33 is irregular in cross section in the plate 32 and rotates as the'plate is pivoted. A lock nut 35 with a cam shoulder is positioned on the pin 33 between theplate 32 and the shoulder 34 and rotates with the pin. With the plate 32 pivoted to the locking position shown in Figure 1, and in which it is retained by the leaf spring 31, the shoulder of nut 35 is forced against the inner edge of the opening I| and the converter is urged into seating relationship with the eye 4 of the fan chamber. With the plate 32 pivoted to the'unlocked position, however, the entire nut 35 lies within the conflnes of opening II and outof contact therewith and the converter member can be withdrawn.

In moving the locking plate 32 from its initial position, that shown inFigure 4, to the locking position, that shown in Figure 2, a function in addition to locking function is accomplished. This comprises raising the cleaner nozzle, and the agitator -contained therein, upwardly from the surface covering and out of contact therewith;

yaminorar that is, from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 1. In order to accomplish this function the outer edge of the locking plate 32 is shaped as a cam, as indicated at 38. To cooperate with this cam there is provided a 5 contact element or slide 39 which slides upon a pin 40 carried by the casing. The opposite end of the arm 39 is pivotally carried by a bracket 4| which is itself xedly secured to the offset portion of the crankshaft I1. 'I'he relationship is such that as the locking plate 32 is pivoted from its initial position, shown in Figure 4, to the locking position, shown in Figure l, the cam face 38 forces the contact member 39 downwardly resulting in the downward pivotal movement of the crankshaft. This, of course, results in the raising of the nozzle and the agitator. The pivotal movement of the crankshaft without adjustment of the manual adjusting means I8 is possible as the crankshaft slides within the slot 2| in the ver- 2o tical adjusting arm 20.

Referring now to Figures 'I to 9, inclusive, a second preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which the suction cleaner proper is the same as that described in the rst embodi- 25 "ment: the difference between the two constructions residing in the locking construction for the converter 30. In this variation the locking means comprise two pivoted plates, 45 and 46. Platev 45 is mounted on the pin 33, as was plate 32 in 30 the rst embodiment, and the locking nut 35, pivots therewith. A coil spring, 41 encircles the pin 33 outside the plate with one of its ends extended along the-exterior of the converter member 30 and with its other end enclosing a pin 48. 35 The second plate 46 is pivotally mounted fiat upon the plate 45 by this same pin. A second spring 48 is carried by a pin 50 on the plate 45 and contacts a lug 5| formed on the plate 46, exerting a force which tends to pivot the plate 46 coun- 40 terclockwise. The extent of the pivotal movement of plate 46 under the influence of spring 49 is limited by a lug 52 formed integrally on the lower edge of plate 45 which extends adjacent its outer edge. 4 To attach the converter which is provided with locking means constructed in accordance with this second embodiment, the unit is positioned so that the shoulder or key 3|, mates with its seat in the opening I| thereby insuring proper alignment. 'I'he locking means in this initial position will be arranged with the plates 45 and 46 as shown in Figure 9, the locking Wedge 35 being positioned as shown in dotted lines. 'I'he locking function is accomplished by exerting a downward force upon the overturned shouldered end of the plate 45, resulting in the pivoting of that plate in a counter-clockwise direction about its supporting pin 33. As the plate 45 pivots it carries with it the plate 46 which advances relative to 60 the contact arm 39, the cam face 53 at the edge of plate 46 forcing that member downwardly. The force exerted by spring 48 is sufficient to overcome any opposing force present in the arm 39. Upon the end of cam 53 being reached the 65 locking arm 38 slides beyond the end thereof and the'lock is secured in position, coil spring 41 functioning to hold the end of the cam locked against the contact arm. With the movement of 53 relative to the arm 39 that member has been 70 forced downwardly, the crankshaft I1 being pivoted therewith, and the parts have assumed the relationship shown in Figure 7. I'he nozzle I, and the agitator 9 positioned therein, is then positioned at a considerable height above the sur- 75 face covering undergoing cleaning, and entirely out of contact therewith..

In order to remove the dusting tool converter the operator need only exert an upward force upon the shouldered outer end of the arm 46 sufficient to pivot it against the force exerted by the spring 49 to disengage the end of the cam 53 from the arm 39. The force exerted by the spring 4l then pivots the entire assemblage in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Figure 'I in which it is removable.

Referring now to Figures 10 to 14, inclusive, the third preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed. This construction differs from that aforedescribed in that the locking means for the converter are carried by the body of the'cleaner instead of by the converter. The lock here functions to lock both the converted and the cover plate 6U which replases it, as well as performing the nozzle-and-agitator-positioning function.

IThe converter 30 is again provided with a shoulder 3| which seats within a corresponding notch in the opening H. A circular flange 6| is formed integrally on the converter and seats in the opening I I, lying flush with the exterior surface thereof. The locking means comprises a plate 62 having a cammed side and formed with an elongated lever 63 adapted to be grasped by the hand. Both lever 63 and plate 62 pivot about the supporting pin 64. In its converter-locking position the arm 63 extends closely adjacent the converter 30 and a radially extended shoulder 65 of the plate 62 overlies the flange 6I, securing the converter in place. Displacement of the plate from this position is prevented by a spring-pressed detent 66 which seats within a channel 6l formed on the interior face of the plate. With the plate and arm 63 so positioned the point of greatest radius on the cammed side of plate 62 contacts a roller on the rigid pin 68 carried by the bracket 4I and holds the crank shaft Il in its lowest position permitted by the slot 2|. The agitator and the nozzle are then positioned above the surface covering, as shown in Figure 10.

With the locking construction functioning to secure the cover plate 60 in place the second radially extended projection 69 on the plate 62 overlies the marginal flange of the cover plate. In this relationship the arm 63 extends to a lower` position than that rst described. Compare Figures 10 and 13. The plate 62 is held in this position through the spring-pressed detent 66 seating within a second inwardly facing channel, indicated by the reference character 1D. The detent is removable from either seat El or 'i6' by a force exerted directly upon the handle member 63. In this cover-plate securing relationship of the plate 62 the exterior cam contacts the pin 68 at a point of smaller radius from the supporting pin Gli and the shaft il is positioned in its uppermost position permitted by the manual adjusting means.

To remove either the converter or the cover plate 60 from the cleaner it is necessary only to pivot the arm 63 to a mid-position in which both the projecting shoulders 65 and 69 of the plate 62 are spaced at the side of the opening l i I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner of the type including" suction-creating means, and a driven agitator; means supporting said agitating means relative to a surface covering undergoing cleaning, a dusting tool unit adapted. to be connected to said suction-creating means, said unit being movable to and from a seating position relative to said suction-creating means, means to lock said unit in place, and means operated by said locking means to adjust automatically said supporting means to raise said agitator above the surface covering undergoing cleaning. 5 2. The construction defined by the preceding claim wherein the means supporting said agitator relative to the surface covering combined With a manually adjustable means to adjust its height relative thereto, said manual height-adjusting means being so constructed that the raising of said agitator upon the locking of said unit is accomplished Without change in said heightadjusting means.

3. In a suction cleaner of the type including a portable body, suction-creating means, and driven agitating means; means adjustably supporting said agitating means relativeto a surface covering undergoing cleaning, a dusting tool unit adapted to be connected to said body and to said suction-creating means, means to lock said unit to said body, and means connected to said supporting means adapted to cooperate with said locking means and be actuated thereby upon locking said unit to said body to adjust said supporting means to move said agitating means relative to the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

4. In a suction cleaner of the type including a portable body, suction-creating, and agitating means; means supporting said agitator relative to a surface covering undergoing cleaning, means to adjust said supporting means to raise and lower said agitator, a dusting tool unit adapted to be connected to said body and to said suctioncreating means, means to lock said unit to said body,'sad locking means including means to actuate said adjusting means to raise said agitator when said locking means are moved to the locked position.

5. In a, suction chamber of the type including 40 a body, suction-creating means in said body, and an agitator carried by said body; means movably supporting said body, manually adjustable means to adjust said supporting means to raise and lower said body and agitator relative to the surface covering, additional means to adjust said supporting means independently of said manually adjustable means, a dusting tool unit adapted to be connected to said body and to said suctioncreating means, means to lock said unit to said 5r) body, said locking means being formed to cooperate with said additional means to actuate same to raise said body and agitator relative'to the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

6. The construction defined by the preceding claim characterized by the fact that the variation of body height and agitator height by said additional adjusting means is accomplished without change in said manually adjustable means.

'7. The construction defined by the second pre- 60 ceding claim characterized by the fact that said locking means are carried by and are removable with said. unit. I

8. The construction dened by the third preceding claim characterized by the fact that said 55 locking means are mounted on said body.

9. In a suction cleaner of the type including a body having a nozzle and a dusting tool seat, suction-creating means connected to said nozzle,

a driven agitator, and adjustable supporting means for said nozzle and agitator; a dusting tool unit adapted to be positioned on said seat and connected to said suction-creating means, said unit including an air passageway and locking means to secure said unit to said seat, said locking means including a part extended into contact with means movable with said supporting means, said part being shaped toexert a moving force on the means with which it contacts to lower said supporting means when said locking means are moved to the locked position.

10. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized by the fact'that the forceexerting part of said locking means comprises a 5 cam and by the further fact that said cam extends into contact with a slidable element pivot-- ally connected to said supporting means.

11. The construction recited by the second preceding clam characterized by the fact that said supporting means comprise a crankshaft and r0- tatable wheels and by the fact that the forceexerting part of said locking means comprises a cam. l

12. In a suction cleaner of the type including suction-creating means and a driven agitator: a. dusting tool unit adapted to be connected to said suction-creating means, means movably supporting said agitator relative to a surface covering undergoing cleaning, means to adjust said supporting means'to vary the height of said agitator relative to said surface covering within its working range, and second means to vary the height of said agitator, said second means including means to secure said dusting tool unit in place relative to said suction-creating means.

13` Ina suction cleaner of -the type including suction-creating means, and a driven agitator; means supporting said agitating means relative to a surface covering undergoing cleaning, a dusting tool unit adapted to be connected to said creating means and not removable with said unit to receive force froml said locking means to raise V automatically said agitator above a supporting 20 surface covering.

I HARRY B. WHITE.

CERTIFICATE 0E CORRECTION. Patent. No. 2,024,261. I December 17, 1935-.

ARRY B. WHITE.

It is hereby Certified that error spp-eers in the printed specification of the above numbered .patent requiring correction as follows.: Page 3, second Column, line 8, claim 2 after ','coverng" insert the word are; and line 40. Claim 5, for "chamber" read cleaner; page 4, second Column, line l?, claim 15, after "movably" insert the wordimounted; and that the said Letters Potent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may Conform to the record of the case in the Patent Offce.

Signed and sealed this 3rd dayoof March, D. 1936.

n Leslie Frazer I (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.4 

